Viscount Legends

[Jazzer]

There are Hammond clones brand named Viscount Legend Classic and Legend Live that are supposed to be the best clones on the market. The ads claim they are endorsed by Joey Defrancesco who has a signature model of both. I’ve only heard them on YouTube and they sounded good on the videos. I have yet to see one for sell in my local area. My question is are they the best and how do they stack up with the other clones?

[delaware dave]

What makes an organ clone the best? The layout? The sound? Does this include the leslie sim? It certainly is a great clone with an authentic layout. The keybed is stiff and the v/c needs improvement. It certainly is an upper echelon clone. The best? That's subjective.

You might change your mind after seeing this video:

https://youtu.be/t3mOJfRiw1E

Now listen to this comparison. Start at the 10 minute mark

https://youtu.be/ZLKKFImRbDY

What makes the best digital piano? The sound? The keybed? The layout? Again, hard to say it's subjective.

[enor]

Some claim that present day "Hammond" clone organs are slightly better. That might be, but they also carry twice the price tag! Personally I haven't tried any clone that I like better than my Legend Live. True, the action is a bit on the stiff side but it's not a big problem to me. The Vibrato/Chorus needs a bit of tweaking to sound authentic but that can be done thru the software editor that comes with it these days.

[valotus]

You might change your mind after seeing this video:

https://youtu.be/t3mOJfRiw1E

I wouldn't do any conclusions by this more than year old comparison. As I tried to tell in one of comments, this Legend has the very first software version (1.1) and the flaws you can hear has been fixed plus the latest version (1.7) has editor to make personal tweaks.

Again, hard to say it's subjective.

This indeed! All of modern clones are darn amazing compared to any older models and they certainly do better than good the job they are made for.

What comes to action, it's exactly same Fatar made TP-8o keybed that is used in Crumar, Nord, Uhl, MAG and Hammond Sk series. It's said at least Crumar has pimped it by using lighter springs, but overall it's the same keyboard. Still, none of manufacturers have same geometry than original has, pivot point of the key is in different place even in Hammond-Suzuki's flagship models.

My -60 A100 has noticeably lighter touch than my Legend, but a mint -73 B3 in local music academy is a way stiffer than Legend. Which one of them has the "real" Hammond action?

The reason why my subjective vote goes to Legend is combination of layout, sound and price tag.

[Sweet Pete]

Comparing touch/feel/weight response as well as 'gliss' comfort and ease should all be part of any audition.
Key-off speed and return/bounce also should be a consideration.
Nord C2D is still a good overall clone in that,the feel and sound are very well paired.
Beside any real -3 tonewheel Hammond console, it still provides a very close experience IMO. Through a Leslie not much different really.

The Legends do look fantastic,would play one for sure to try it!Classic ergonomics and that's always welcome.
Played a Crumar Mojo through a Motion Sound amp/sim and it was too clicky and chirpy for my taste.
Might have enjoyed the clone more without the amp? Prefer my Vent pedal to anything except the real deal.


The weight on Nord Stage Compacts and Electros are all different too,Stage is heavier(75-80 grams)Electro is lighter(40-45 grams).
Stage Piano the obvious reason is to get a closer weighted feel,and primarily an organ clone the Electro is sprung lighter.
Even the sampled Hammonds on Nords vary model to model.I still love the Electro II A100!
The C2D(1960 clean B3) is identical 19 grams against this 1960 A100. This '63 A100 is 15 grams,lots of hours.....this '37 BCV is set to 13 grams.
Buttery chorus,this 1958 M3 is 20 grams weighted on tips of keys!Plays almost new after 60+ years!

I auditioned the XK5 beside the A100's and remained with this C2D.
Key on/off bounce on the XK was not as responsive,maybe the menu includes different click responses?
The one I played had less keyclick compared to the C2D. Not as 'snappy' on 888800000.
Around now for almost ten years the C2D has held up well in a very niche market IMO.
Love the HAMMOND 25 note midi pedalboard,those Nord sticks are laughable.
The pluck/string bass synth envelope on the C2D responds perfect to the toe/heel.
I imagine the 'real' new Hammond B3 plays nice too,hope a full Legend setup pops up to audition someday.
By then something else will come along....

[Legend12345]

Viscount Legend Live pedal problem - can anyone help???

I just bought a VISCOUNT LEGEND LIVE.
The volume pedal I am using (currently a brand new Roland EV5 but I've tried a couple of different pedals) is not working with the organ. We are getting sound and the volume does change but...When I push the pedal down, the volume jumps up very quickly - way too quickly. Changing the setting on the pedal doesn't solve the problem. I discovered the pedal can be calibrated with the organ by this method...

Hold down transpose button and press F#4 note on upper manual when pedal is in lowest volume position and then let go.Hold down transpose button and press G#4 note on upper manual when pedal is in highest volume position and then let go.

Unfortunately this did not help. Any thoughts ideas would be VERY much appreciated as we have a gig soon.

Thanks.

[Spencer Velky]

I realize you posted about this issue a while ago. I have the same issue. I just bought a Viscount Legend Live with a Nord pedal board and the same problem happens. Did you ever figure out how to fix it?

[Larason2]

My thoughts are that the Nord either uses a linear potentiometer with much higher resistance (say 50k instead of 10k), or uses a light dependent resistor instead. Either way it would be tricky to get it to work. Is there any way to sell the Nord pedals and buy the viscount ones? If you’re technically inclined, you can test the output with a multimeter to figure out what kind of output it gives out. If it’s linear to 50k ohms, it’s the first scenario. If it’s logarithmic to 400k ohms or something similar, it’s the second scenario. For the first, you can order a similar potentiometer but 10k, disassemble and desolder the old one, then solder back in the new one. For the second scenario, the conversion is quite tricky, so hope it’s the first.

[enor]

There's no standard wiring for expression pedals. The roland pedals are wired in reverse to what the Legend expects to see. If you're electronically inclined you'll sort it out in no time - what you need to do is to reverse the tip and ring .... connect the current "tip" wire to the ring instead, and vice versa.

[magname]

Comparing touch/feel/weight response as well as 'gliss' comfort and ease should all be part of any audition.
Key-off speed and return/bounce also should be a consideration.
...
hope a full Legend setup pops up to audition someday.
By then something else will come along....

Hello,
Any occasion occured to audition the legend since ?